Quotes

Coming from a small town it was tough to dream big. When I grew up in a small town in Georgia, my biggest dream was one day to be able to go to Atlanta. (Herschel Walker)

Here is a city whose people, rich and poor, are so steeped in good manners--in the smile, the soft word, the easy humor of the Old South--that truck drivers wave at pedestrians as they pass. (R.W. Apple Jr. about Savannah)

I believe Georgia should aspire to nothing less than greatness. And I believe greatness is within our grasp. (Sonny Perdue)

...a place of preeminent silence under big oaks. (John McPhee about Philomath)

When you combine the men and women deployed from our military installations with activated reservists and members of the National Guard, Georgia is contributing more personnel to the theatre than any other State in our Union. (Sonny Perdue)

Symbols

Nicknames: The Peach State; Empire State of the South; The Buzzard state

Georgia On My Mind

(words by Stuart Gorrell, music by Hoagy Carmichael)

Melodies bring memories
That linger in my heart
Make me think of Georgia
Why did we ever part?
Some sweet day when blossoms fall
And all the world's a song
I'll go back to Georgia
'Cause that's where I belong.

Georgia, Georgia, the whole day through
Just an old sweet song keeps Georgia on my mind.

Georgia, Georgia, a song of you
Comes as sweet and clear as moonlight through the pines.
Other arms reach out to me
Other eyes smile tenderly
Still in peaceful dreams I see
The road leads back to you.

Georgia, Georgia, no peace I find
Just an old sweet song keeps Georgia on my mind.

Georgia State Creed

(adopted in 1939)

Accepting, as I do, the principles upon which Georgia was founded, not for self but others;--its Democratic form of Government, based on 'Wisdom, Justice and Moderation';--its natural resources;--its Educational, Social and Religious advantages, making it a most desirable place to live--I will strive to be a pure upright Citizen, rejecting the evils--loving and emulating the good.

I further believe it is my duty to defend it against all enemies, to honor and obey its laws, to apply the Golden Rule in all my dealings with my fellow Citizens.

I feel a sense of pride in the history and heroic deeds accomplished by my forebears, and shall endeavor to so live that my State will be proud of me for doing my bit to make my State a better Commonwealth for future generations.

Items of Interest

Okefenokee Swamp encompasses over 400,000 acres of canals; moss draped cypress trees, and lily pad prairies providing sanctuaries for hundreds of species of birds and wildlife including several endangered species. It's name was derived from an Indian word meaning the trembling earth.

The Cherokee Phoenix, published in New Echota in 1828, was the first known newspaper to be printed in a Native American language.

Saint Marys is the second oldest city in the nation.

The First African Baptist Church, founded in Savannah in 1788, was the first African-American church in the U. S.

The sweetest onion in the world, the Vidalia, can only be grown in the fields around Vidalia and Glennville

In 1828 Auraria was the site of the first Gold Rush in America.

Coca-Cola was invented in Atlanta in May 1886 by Dr. John S. Pemberton. The name "Coca-Cola" was suggested by Dr. Pemberton's bookkeeper, Frank Robinson. He penned the name Coca-Cola in the flowing script that is famous today. Coca-Cola was first sold at a soda fountain in Jacob's Pharmacy in Atlanta by Willis Venable.

Marshall Forest in Rome is the only natural forest within a city limits in the U.S.

The Six Flags Over Georgia theme-park, was named for six flags that flew over GA--England, Spain, Liberty, GA, Confederate States of America, and the U.S.

Chickamuga National Park is the site of the bloodiest battle in American history.

Stone Mountain near Atlanta is one of the largest single masses of exposed granite in the world. Located on the face of the mountain are the figures of Stonewall Jackson, Jefferson Davis, and Robert E. Lee--the world's largest sculpture. Robert E. Lee's horse, Traveler, is also carved on the mountain.

Berry College in Rome has the world's largest college campus.

Wesleyan College in Macon was the first college in the world chartered to grant degrees to women.

Athens is the location of the first university chartered and supported by state funds.

Notable Natives

Some of these were born here, others just lived a while in the state.

Conrad Aiken - poet (Savannah)

James Bowie - soldier (Burke County)

James Brown - singer, "the Godfather of Soul" (raised in Augusta)

Jim Brown - football player

Ralph Bunch - diplomat, first Georgian to win the Nobel Peace Prize.

Erskine Caldwell - author (Moreland)

Asa G. Candler - businessman, philanthropist

Jimmy Carter (1929- ) - 39th U.S. president (born and still lives in Plains)

Ray Charles - singer (Albany)

Lucius D. Clay - banker, general (Marietta)

Tyrus "Ty" Cobb (1886-1961) - first baseball player admitted into the Baseball Hall of Fame

Charles Coburn - actor (Macon)

Ossie Davis - actor, writer (Cogdell)

James Dickey - poet (Atlanta)

Mattiwilda Dobbs - opera singer (Atlanta)

Melvyn Douglas - actor (Macon)

Pete Drake - musician, record producer(Augusta)

Rebecca Latimer Felton - first appointed female U.S. senator (Decatur)

The Georgia State Flag
Georgia adopted a new flag in 2003. The flag has two red stripes with white between. In the upper left corner is a gold representation of the state coat of arms on a blue background. The 13 stars surrounding the seal identify GA as one of the original 13 colonies. Three pillars supporting an arch represent the three branches of government. A man with a sword is defending the Constitution. The date 1776 represents the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

You know you are from Georgia if...

Sweet tea is THE drink. No questions.

When a waitress asks what you want to drink and you say Coke, she asks "What kind?"

"Ya'll" is a word.

Atlanta is known as "The City."

You know the difference between a hillbilly, a redneck, and a Southerner.

The one way to be killed in .5 seconds is to talk bad about somebody's mama or talk bad to somebody's mama.

Krispy Kreme donuts are the only kind of donuts you eat.

Fried chicken is a major part of your diet.

When the Government started telling people to stock up on duck tape, you were waaaaaaaaaay ahead of them.

You walk into someone's house and people are sitting around smoking what they call "the garden".

On one side of the road there's Wal-Mart and on the other is a cotton field.

You greet people with"Howdy, Whachu doin?"

You know what a 'dawg' is.

You know people who consider a six pack and a bug zapper quality entertainment.

The directions to your house include "turn off the paved road."

Your dog and your wallet are both on chains.

You still call the refrigerator the "icebox".

You call it a cold Christmas if you don't break out in a sweat in your new sweater.

Your whole town completely shuts down for one inch of snow or just the threat of snow.

You know at least three streets named "Peachtree".

You don't know anyone who drinks Pepsi.

It is not a shopping cart, it is a buggy.

People actually grow, eat and like okra!

You have spray painted your girlfriend's name on an overpass.

Someone asks to see your ID and you show them your belt buckle.

You know at least one person who has lost a tooth opening a beer bottle.

You bought a VCR so you could tape wrestling while you are at work.

You prominently display the memento you got at Graceland.

You have started a petition to change the National Anthem to "Georgia on My Mind."

You call your boss "Dude."

You actually get these jokes and pass them on to other friends from Georgia.